Chapter Five

Thursday, November 4, 2004

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

“How is the transplant going?” Bobbie Spencer asked as Steven stepped up to the desk and set some charts down.

“She’s in there with Dr. Quartermaine–Mrs. Dr. Quartermaine,” Steven clarified. “She’s a little more skilled in that area than I am.” He shrugged. “But it’s going okay, I think. It was real luck finding Elizabeth as a donor. I thought after Morgan was tested, we were out of options.”

“And Elizabeth? Is she going home today?”

“Mmm…she’s going to stay with some friends. They had Cameron over night last night and until Elizabeth’s a little stronger, she’ll stay with them.” Steven made one last notation in a chart. “I’m done for the day–”

“Who’s Elizabeth staying with?” Bobbie asked. “Emily?”

“No, Emily’s planning her wedding. She’s staying with Jason Morgan and his girlfriend, Sam,” Steven replied.

“Jason?” Bobbie repeated. She mulled that one over. “I didn’t realize they were still…friends.”

Steven frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Well…” Bobbie leaned across the counter and proceeded to tell Steven exactly what that meant.

Brooke Lynn’s Hospital Room

Brooke took a deep breath. “Thanks for convincing my parents to leave the room.”

Mac nodded. “You can trust me, Brooke. I don’t want to cause you any pain or discomfort but there are questions I need to ask.”

Brooke nodded. “There was evidence right?” she asked softly.

“There was DNA…and the hospital took photographs,” Mac said hesitantly, unable to really look her straight on. It wasn’t too hard to imagine one of his daughters sitting there, bruised and broken. “The last thing we need before DA Lansing goes to the grand jury is your official full statement.”

Brooke nodded. “Okay, go ahead. I promise to tell you the truth.”

“Okay. The night of November 2, you were at Kelly’s with Diego Sanchez, is that right?” Mac asked.

Brooke nodded. “We had dinner and we were talking. Eventually we were the last customers there. Mike–he had to leave and he asked us to keep an eye on the place.”

“What happened when he was gone?” Mac asked.

“Diego and I were just talking. He stood up and went to the, ah, counter. I followed him.” Brooke hesitated. “It’s–I don’t even remember what we were talking about. But–he kissed me.” She rubbed her finger over her bruised bottom lip. “I pushed him away, I was so angry. He knew I’d been seeing Lucas and I didn’t–I didn’t give him any signal that it was okay.”

She clenched her fist in the blankets and looked down. “He–I said ‘I thought we were friends’ and he just–he looked so unlike the Diego I thought I knew. He was so…furious.” Tears threatened to spill over her lashes and she took in a shaky breath. “He–he said, ‘You thought I wanted to be friends with you?'”

She was silent for a moment but then continued. “He had me by the shoulders–and was shaking me so hard I could, like, feel my teeth rattle. I asked him to let me go and then–he dragged me to the kitchen. He said he’d show me what he did to teases.”

Brooke dragged a hand over her eyes. “He threw me against a counter so hard I lost my breath and then–then he tore my shirt.” Her voice broke and she closed her eyes. “He, um, tried to kiss me again but I–scratched at his face and he hit me.” She touched her cheek where a large bruise was swelling. “I don’t–it’s not really clear after that.” She cleared her throat. “I remember him tearing my skirt and the–sound of his zipper,” she said softly. “I think I might…I might have blacked out after that or I just–I can’t remember.”

“That’s enough for now.” Mac capped his pen and put it and his notepad in his coat pocket. “You did fine, Brooke.”

“I asked Georgie to find out why,” Brooke said after a moment of awkward silence. “I was upset and I wasn’t thinking clearly and I know she just promised to do it so I would calm down so…if she asks to see him, tell her no, okay?”

“I’m not letting Georgie anywhere near that kid,” Mac promised her. He stood. “I might have to ask a few more questions but we’re done for now. I’ll go tell your parents that we’re done.”

PCPD: Squad Room

“Dad said it was fine along as someone stands by that little window thing,” Georgie lied smoothly as she smiled at one of the rookie cops.

“I don’t know,” the officer said. “Maybe…”

“I’m the police commissioner’s daughter,” Georgie said patiently. She smiled, charm oozing from her expression. “Would I lie?”

Five minutes later, she sat in the interrogation room, trying not to fidget as an officer led Diego Sanchez into the room.

Diego smirked and flopped into the seat. “You never seemed the type for sloppy seconds.”

Georgie sat back in the seat. “Don’t be crass. I know what you did to her and all I want to know is why.”

“I can’t believe she’s saying it was rape,” Diego snorted. “Fucking tease.”

Georgie clenched her fists. “You knew she was dating Lucas. What made you think she’d want you?”

“He’s a pansy-ass,” Diego snarled. “I thought she’d want a real man.”

“Yeah, a real man forces himself on a girl. A real man doesn’t take no for an answer,” Georgie said mockingly. “A real man has to resort to rape to get what he wants.”

“Watch it, Princess,” Diego said quietly. “Just watch it.”

“Or what?” Georgie challenged. “You’ll hit me? You’ll rape me too?”

“Why would I want some little daddy’s brat?” Diego leaned forward and looked her so intently Georgie could practically feel him ripping the clothes from her body. “You’re just a little girl, Jones. Even your own boyfriend won’t screw you.” He sat back. “I wouldn’t even lower myself to touch you.”

“Well, after what you did to Brooke…” Georgie stood slowly, not taking her eyes off him, “you won’t have a chance to do it to anyone else. You’re going to jail Diego and I hope to God someone makes you their bitch.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, sweetheart. I already got someone taking care of this little inconvenience.”

“What?” Georgie demanded.

“So when I get out, should I look you up?” Diego asked.

The door flew open and Mac stepped in. “Out,” he snarled at his daughter.

Georgie glared at Diego. “I’ll find a way to make sure you rot in prison,” she hissed. She stalked out.

“Officer, get this scum back to his cell.”

Mac dragged Georgie from the squad room into office and slammed the door. “What the hell do you think you were doing?”

“I was trying to get answers,” Georgie seethed. “Is he going to prison or not, Dad?”

“That’s none of your business,” Mac replied. “You do not get to use my name to go see a criminal–”

“Brooke deserves to know why this happened to her,” Georgie argued. “Does he have connections? Is he getting out?”

Mac shook his head. “His connections aren’t coming through. I don’t know what they are, but they’re not going to work. We’ve got him solid, Georgie. Now promise me you won’t pull this stunt again.”

“I promise.” Now that she had been reassured and her father seemed to have calmed down, the chill in her skin seemed to set in. “I never want to see him again anyway.”

Elizabeth’s Hospital Room

Elizabeth was buttoning her pink blouse when Steven pushed open the door and frowned at her. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“So you and Jason are friends.”

“Yep.”

He closed the door and leaned against it. “Friends who have lived together.”

Her fingers stilled on the last button. “That was a long time ago.”

“Mm. So Sam’s Jason’s girlfriend?” Steven asked.

“No.” Elizabeth sat on the bed and started to tie her tennis shoes.

“Is he Cameron’s father?”

“What?” Elizabeth asked, jerking her head up to stare at her brother. “What are you talking about?”

“Is Jason Cameron’s father?” Steven repeated.

“What would make you ask a question like that?” Elizabeth demanded. She finished tying her shoes and stood. “Zander–”

“Had brown eyes,” Steven finished. “I’ve seen pictures. Blue eyes are recessive. So therefore both parents have to have blue eyes.”

Elizabeth blinked. “So?”

“Cameron’s eyes are blue,” Steven remarked. “I didn’t really think about it before but once I found out that you and Jason are not exactly friends, I started to think about it. I pulled Zander Smith’s hospital records. And yours and Cameron’s.”

“You had no right–”

“The blood types don’t match. So Zander isn’t Cameron’s father. And neither is Ric Lansing, I already knew this. So is Jason’s Cameron’s father?”

“It’s not that simple,” Elizabeth sighed, sinking onto the hospital bed. “Steven…”

“Does he know?” Steven asked.

“He knows,” Elizabeth murmured. “I realized he was Cameron’s father last April. I didn’t know how to deal with that so I left town. When I came back, I told him the truth.”

“And he doesn’t want him?” Steven snarled. “I’ll kill him–”

“No, no–” Elizabeth stood and took his arm. “Jason loves Cameron, he loves him so much. You don’t know Jason like I do. He’s a wonderful father. He just–we can’t be a family right now. Sonny and Carly…there are just circumstances. Jason’s trying to protect us.”

“So that’s how you can afford the cottage,” he realized. “And why you always put off those doctors.”

“I love him. I’ve hurt him so much in the past so him just asking for some time to get things squared away is not so bad.” She scratched her forehead. “It’s…just hard pretending that I don’t love him.”

Steven shook his head. “If he was willing to sleep with you, he should be willing to accept the consequences. He thinks he can tell Carly how to live her life–I bet she has no idea he’s treating my sister like some whore.”

“Steven, it’s not like that–”

“Not like that? You might think it’s okay because he loves you and you love him, but that doesn’t excuse what he’s doing. I bet he only comes by once in a while, right? Only when he can find the time,” he said sarcastically.

“Steven–”

“How can you let him do this to you?” Steven demanded. “How can you let him treat you like you’re not important?”

“I am important to him, he’s trying to protect me,” Elizabeth attempted to explain.

“If you were so damn important, Elizabeth, he would tell Sonny and Carly to go to hell. He sure wouldn’t be shacking up with Sam McCall and he wouldn’t be planning to raise that little girl while my sister is stuck raising his son by herself,” he seethed.

“Steven, it’s not like that,” Elizabeth pleaded, her eyes glossy with tears. “I love him.”

“Then I guess it’s just fine and dandy that he chooses the rest of the people in his life over you,” Steven said scathingly.

Elizabeth fell silent and blinked, looking at the floor. What Steven said made sense but Jason loved her. He wasn’t really choosing Sonny, Carly and Sam over her and Cameron.

But he’d known the truth since July. Four months. He came by almost every day in the beginning but it was getting less and less now. Last month, he’d only spent the night one time and his visits were so short. Didn’t her son deserve better?

Didn’t she deserve better?

“Do you think you could arrange to take tomorrow off?” she asked softly. “I just need to rest for a little while and someone needs to watch Cameron. Can you stay at the cottage?”

“Sure.” Steven rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t–I didn’t want you to feel bad, Elizabeth. I just–you deserve the best life has to offer. I don’t want you to settle for someone who refuses to give that to you.”

“I know. I know you love me.” She kissed his cheek. “Can you take me home? And go pick up Cameron from the penthouse? I just want to go home.”

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

Sam opened the door. “Hey, did you bring Elizabeth?” she asked.

Steven stepped past her and entered the penthouse. “No, I’m just picking up Cam.”

“Picking…” Sam hesitated. “I thought she was staying with us.”

“Plans change,” Steven said simply. “Where is he?”

“He’s in the nursery with Jason,” Sam said, “but–”

Steven ignored her and went upstairs, looking for the first open door. It led into a room decorated in pink and white, just ready for a little girl to come into the world.

Jason was standing by the crib with Cameron in his arms. He looked up at Steven’s arrival. “Elizabeth downstairs?”

“No.” Steven spied Cameron’s diaper bag on the floor and picked it up, looping the strap over his shoulder. “I’m here to take Cameron with me. I took tomorrow off from the hospital so I’m going to watch out for them both.”

“Why?” Jason asked, a little sharply. “Cameron’s fine here.”

“He belongs with his mother,” Steven remarked. “Not with someone who can’t bother to treat my sister with even half the respect she deserves. Not with someone who can’t claim his own kid because he’d rather have the respect of his friends.”

Jason stilled and after a moment, he sat Cameron in the crib and stalked past Steven. Steven followed him and shut the door so that Cameron wouldn’t be disturbed.

“What’s the matter?” Steven asked. “You don’t like hearing the truth?”

“You don’t know a damn thing about this situation,” Jason said coldly. “And I find it hard to believe Elizabeth just volunteered this information.”

“Right, because the whole thing is supposed to be some sort of sordid little secret.” Steven nodded. “You ashamed of my sister?”

“Shut the hell up–”

“You ashamed you created that beautiful little boy with her?” Steven asked.

“You don’t know anything–”

“I know that my sister is an amazing person who has been through so much in her life that the last thing she needs is the man she loves treating her like a second-class whore. Do you know how many doctors ask her out?” Steven demanded. “Men who would treat her like gold, who would give her the respect she damn well deserves. But no, she sits at home and waits for you. A man who would rather let what his friends think rule his life. If you really loved her, if you really valued her, you’d tell Sonny and Carly to go to hell. You don’t get to treat her this way, Morgan.”

“Says the guy who never showed up until now. How long has she lived here?” Jason asked. “How many times have you been to visit? How many times have you called or written?”

“I’m not trying to pretend I’ve never made a mistake,” Steven retorted. “I’m saying that I never treated my sister like dirt. I never made her feel like she should have to sit around and wait for you to come to her. It’s done. She’s already taken the first step by going home instead of here and if I have anything to do with it, she’s going to keep walking away from you.”

Jason grabbed Steven by the shirt collar and slammed him against the wall. “What makes you think she’ll listen to you?” he growled.

“She already has,” Steven said coolly.

Sam’s labored breathing broke through the haze of testosterone. She rounded the corner. “I started up the stairs when the door slammed but, boy, it took forever.” She looked at Jason and rolled her eyes. “Let him go. Do you think it’s going to make it any easier if you rough her brother up?”

Jason released Steven and stepped back. “My son stays here. Elizabeth can pick him up herself.”

“Really,” Steven said slowly. “So if we go out to the elevators and I tell you I’m taking Cameron home, you gonna say that? Just like that?”

Jason just glared at him. Steven shook his head. “No balls,” he muttered. He pushed Jason out of the way and went into the room. A few moments later, he emerged, Cameron tucked into a carrier.

“Jason,” Sam hissed. “Stop him.”

“Elizabeth wants Cameron at the cottage,” Jason said quietly as he watched another child being taken from him. “I’ll go see her tomorrow and we’ll–we’ll straighten this out.”

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